Sometimes life events bring with them the need or desire to opt for a smaller living space. Unfortunately – though not always – this entails either getting rid or moving into storage some of your possessions. The thought of having to unload or say goodbye to belongings that have been with you for a long time, some of which may hold a great deal of sentimental value for you, can be an unpleasant one. Here are 5 tips that can help you make your downsize simple and stress free. Create a list of your “must haves.” Knowing what you need and can’t live without can give you a much clearer idea of what is ultimately important to you. People tend to attach themselves to absolutely everything they own, but creating a list of priorities will allow you to let go of things you don’t need much easier. Give yourself plenty of time to get rid of things before you move.…

Good news in the Ontario housing front. Following a hot January real estate market in Toronto and in Ontario as a whole, latest reports from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation show an increase of 49% for total Ontario housing starts in February to a seasonally adjusted rate of 38,000 units. Rental activity at Toronto’s Jiffy Self Storage follows on the heals of this trend as Toronto real estate market shows signs of heating up again. Vacant storage units in Toronto are going to be scarce this this spring and summer and occupancies in self storage may reach an all time high. Businesses and families contemplating self storage should reserve early to get the right size for their storage needs. Due…

Judging by the rate at which office space is being snapped up in the Greater Toronto area, business appears to be picking up in the Toronto local commercial real estate market. According to Avison Young’s office market report, the Greater Toronto area West market saw a steady decline in office vacancies in the fourth quarter as more and more businesses took advantage of office vacancies. “Induced by attractive rental rates and new product opportunities, tenants in the GTA West office market are definitely creating increased velocity,” said Martin Dockrill, principal and managing director for Avison Young’s Mississauga office. While the vacancy rates are higher this year compared to last year, officials at Avison Young say the downward trend of vacancy…

The number of people moving to the Greater Toronto area last month may be slightly off the pace when compared to January 2010, but the city’s real estate market continues to move forward. According to the Toronto Real Estate Board, there were 4,337 transactions for resold houses in January. That’s 13 percent lower compared to this same time last year, but January 2010 was a record month for housing and demand for storage units in Toronto. “While off the record pace experience a year ago, the GTA resale market has started the year on a solid footing,” said Bill Johnston, president of the Toronto Real Estate Board. “Home buyers in Toronto and surrounding areas continue to benefit from a diversity…

At more than 33 million, Canada’s population has been on a steady increase for more than 50 years. And last year, there was a significant jump in economic migrants. Approximately 280,600 legal immigrants became permanent residents of Canada in 2010. The number is 6 percent higher than immigration officials predicted and the most the country has seen since 1957. While the report considers all residents that move to Canada, the biggest portion was economic migrants who made up two-thirds of new legal residents. In a news conference, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said the country wants to bring more skilled immigrants to the country to stimulate the economy. By adjusting Ottawa’s points grid, the people accepted for the country’s skilled work…